Finishing 3D printed parts
Availability
Which finishes suit each material
You choose the colour and the surface in the quote form. If you're not sure which finish you need, tell us where the part will be used.
| Material | Blasting | Immersion | RAL paint | Clear coat | Vapour smoothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon 12 | included | black | yes | yes | yes |
| Nylon 12 White | included | black and colours | yes | yes | yes |
| Nylon 12 Tough | included | black | yes | yes | no |
| Nylon 11 | included | black | yes | yes | yes |
| Nylon 12 GF | included | black | yes | yes | no |
| Nylon 11 CF | included | no | yes | yes | no |
| TPU 90A | included | black | no | no | yes |
| Polypropylene | included | no | no | no | no |
Polishing is not in the table, because we confirm it for each part, depending on the material and the geometry.
Standard, included in the price
Blasting
After depowdering, the parts go through automatic glass bead blasting, which removes the powder left on the surface and in corners and evens out the texture.
- How it looks
- Matte and slightly grainy, similar to fine stone, in the colour of the powder. In a Formlabs study, automatically blasted PA12 parts had a surface roughness Ra of about 8 to 16 µm, depending on the face.
- Materials
- PA12, PA12 White, PA12 Tough, PA11, PA12 GF, PA11 CF, TPU 90A, PP
- Limits
- The pores of the surface stay open. Undyed white parts pick up dirt more easily when handled, and TPU 90A and polypropylene have a rougher surface than PA12.
- Dimensions and fits
- Blasting adds no material. The dimensions of the part are those of the SLS process, described in the design guide.
On request
Immersion dyeing
The part is immersed in a bath of dye for polyamide. The dye goes slightly into the surface, so it doesn't form a layer that could peel.
- How it looks
- The matte texture from blasting stays and only the colour changes. PA12 White takes the colours in the palette below, and the other materials take black only. A deep scratch can show the base colour.
- Materials
- Black: PA12, PA12 White, PA12 Tough, PA11, PA12 GF, TPU 90AColours: PA12 White
- Limits
- The shade depends on the time in the bath and on the surface of the part, so it can vary between batches. To match a colour code, we recommend a sample or RAL painting. Polypropylene doesn't take the dye, and PA11 CF is already black.
- Dimensions and fits
- The dye goes into the surface rather than building up a layer on it, so the part keeps practically the same dimensions as after blasting.
Black
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Orange
On request
RAL painting
The part is primed and spray painted in the RAL code you give us in your request.
- How it looks
- An even colour, in the shade of the chosen code. The primer and paint cover much of the grain left by blasting.
- Materials
- PA12, PA12 White, PA12 Tough, PA11, PA12 GF, PA11 CF
- Limits
- We don't paint flexible TPU 90A parts, because the paint cracks when the part flexes. Polypropylene doesn't hold paint well and stays in its natural colour.
- Dimensions and fits
- Primer and paint add a thin layer on every face. Holes for pins or bearings, threads, clips and mating faces are masked before painting so that they keep their dimensions. Please mark them in your request or on a drawing.
On request
Clear protective coat
A clear coat applied to the surface of the part, which seals the pores left after blasting.
- How it looks
- The part becomes slightly glossy and the colour underneath stays visible. It is easier to clean and picks up less dirt when handled, which matters most on white parts.
- Materials
- PA12, PA12 White, PA12 Tough, PA11, PA12 GF, PA11 CF
- Limits
- It isn't applied to TPU 90A or polypropylene. On flexible parts the coat cracks when the part flexes.
- Dimensions and fits
- Like paint, the coat adds a thin layer. Tight fits and threads are masked before it is applied.
On request
Polishing
After blasting, the parts go through an extra cycle in the Fuse Blast, with polishing media instead of glass beads.
- How it looks
- The surface becomes semi-gloss and ready for painting. In the same Formlabs study, the roughness of PA12 parts came down from 8–16 µm after blasting to around 4–9 µm after polishing.
- Materials
- We confirm it in the quote, depending on the material and the geometry of the part. The roughness values above were measured by Formlabs on PA12.
- Limits
- The polishing media has a harder time reaching internal channels, deep holes and tight corners, so the surface there stays as it was after blasting.
- Dimensions and fits
- Polishing works on the whole surface, edges included. If the part has sharp edges that must stay sharp or tight dimensions, mention them in your request.
On request
Vapour smoothing
The surface of the part is smoothed by controlled exposure to a vapour, which seals the pores and reduces the grain left by blasting.
- How it looks
- The surface becomes smoother and sealed, closer to the look of an injection-moulded part. It is easier to clean and holds less dirt.
- Materials
- PA12, PA12 White, PA11, TPU 90A
- Limits
- Smoothing alone doesn't make a part watertight. For containers and fluid channels we recommend walls of at least 2 mm, and the first part should be tested at the working pressure.
- Dimensions and fits
- The process acts on the whole surface, including edges, fine details and raised text. If the part has tight dimensions or small details, tell us in advance so that we can check whether smoothing suits it.
Questions about finishing
Which finish is included in the price?
Automatic glass bead blasting, after depowdering. Dyeing, painting, the protective coat, polishing and vapour smoothing are added on request and listed separately in the quote.
What is the difference between immersion dyeing and RAL painting?
With immersion, the dye goes into the surface, the texture stays matte and the colours are those in the palette. Spray painting adds a thin layer of primer and paint, in any RAL code, on rigid materials. If you need an exact colour, choose RAL painting.
Can TPU 90A parts be coloured?
Only black, by immersion. We don't paint or coat flexible parts, because the coating cracks when the part flexes. Vapour smoothing can also be done on TPU 90A.
Does paint change the dimensions of the part?
Immersion dye doesn't form a layer, so the dimensions stay practically the same. RAL paint and the clear coat add a thin layer, which is why precision holes, threads and mating faces are masked. Mark them in your request or on a PDF drawing.
Is the part watertight after vapour smoothing?
The surface is sealed, but watertightness also depends on wall thickness and pressure. For containers and fluid channels we recommend walls of at least 2 mm, vapour smoothing and testing the first part at the working pressure before the batch.
How do I get an exact shade?
With immersion, the final shade depends on the time in the bath and on the surface of the part, so it can vary between batches. For a specific RAL code, choose spray painting. When colour matters, we recommend asking for a sample first.
Send us the file and tell us which finish you want for each part
- Free quote
- No minimum quantity
- NDA on request